9/11 Attacks Caused Increased Chronic Pain, Researchers Show THE HIDDEN COST OF SEPTEMBER 11TH

A multi-center study by a group of medical researchers led by Dr. Mark Allen Young, author of Women and Pain"(Hyperion) determined that Americans experienced a dramatic increase in chronic pain following the September 11th terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. For women, the increase in measurable pain was three times as great as for men, and had a longer duration.

9/11 Attacks Caused Increased Chronic Pain, Researchers Show

THE HIDDEN COST OF SEPTEMBER 11TH

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A multi-center study by a group of medical researchers led by Dr. Mark Allen Young, author of Women and Pain"(Hyperion) determined that Americans experienced a dramatic increase in chronic pain following the September 11th terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. For women, the increase in measurable pain was three times as great as for men, and had a longer duration.

The results of our study have significant implications for the economic and human toll resulting from the tragic events of September 11th ." Dr. Young said.

Increased chronic pain results in lost time at work, greater outlays for medical care and uncounted suffering. It is a hidden cost we do not see, but it is nonetheless real."

The findings of Dr. Youngs post September 11th study which have been accepted for publication in the Journal of Practical Pain Management (April 2002) confirm the central thesis of his book Women and Pain," the notion that women experience pain differently than men, and that this difference should be taken into account in determining the appropriate course of treatment. As we mark the six-month anniversary of the WTC attack, this finding is particularly significant.

The results of this September 11th impact study underscore the importance of recognizing gender differences in treating chronic pain." Dr.Young noted.

Put simply, women are not small men and women have different pain thermostats which may make them more vulnerable to the pain and stress associated with the September 11th tragedy."

Dr. Young, a pain management specialist is board-certified specialist in physical medicine and rehabilitation. He chairs the department of PM&R at the Maryland Rehabilitation Center. He is author of over 70 publications including 5 books. His research team includes faculty members from major medical centers including New York University, University of Washington and Johns Hopkins University.

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